Scout David McKeown wants to honor United States Space Force
By Barb Pert Templeton
A new flag honoring the sixth branch of the U.S. military will soon be displayed at the Veteran’s Memorial at Riverfront Park in Algonac.
David McKeown, a Star Scout from Troop 252, first appeared before the Algonac City Council on Aug. 4 to propose an Eagle Scout project to enhance the city’s Veteran’s Memorial. A recent council meeting on Aug. 18 had the council officially approving the project.
David told the council on Aug. 4 that his idea is to recognize the newest branch of the United States Armed Forces – the United States Space Force under a project he will call the American Six.
The U.S. Space Force was established on Dec. 20, 2019, creating the first new branch of the armed services since 1947. The establishment of the USSF resulted from widespread recognition that space is a national security imperative, according to spaceforce.mil.
David’s proposal includes installing a new 25-foot center flagpole behind the existing six service flagpoles, relocating the current POW/MIA flag to the new center pole and displaying a new Space Force flag on the existing pole. The change will allow the memorial to honor all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces while providing a more prominent display of the POW/MIA flag.
Algonac resident David McKeown appeared at an Aug. 4 Algonac City Council meeting seeking approval for an Eagle Scout Flagpole Project. He received the city council’s approval at their most recent meeting on Aug. 18.
The company that originally installed the city’s Veteran’s Memorial flagpoles and currently provides the city’s annual flag maintenance and replacement program, Rocket Enterprise, submitted a proposal for installation of the new flag pole. The proposal was to furnish and install the new 25-foot aluminum flagpole, including hardware plus a new 4 x 6 POW/MIA flag for a total cost of $2,315.
At the same time that the bid for the new flagpole was submitted Rocket Enterprise added another service proposal to the city to maintain the new 3 x 5 Space Force flag for $165 a year.
Rockets suggested adding that fee to the city’s existing maintenance agreement for $255 that includes replacing flags and hardware bringing the new contract total to $420.
Clearing up who’s paying the bill
At the Aug. 18 meeting after Councilman Jacob Skarbek made a motion to approve the expenditure for the project Councilman Michael Bembas asked wasn’t the scout going to raise the funds for the project?
David couldn’t make it to the recent council meeting so his father, Kevin McKeown, stepped to the podium to explain his plan.
“He does have to raise funds for his Eagle project, it’s not paid through the city he has to go out and fundraise the money for the two quotes that you have,” McKeown said.
In addition, David wants to provide a year of maintenance costs for the project and any money collected beyond that will also be donated to the city, his father said.
This is how the Veteran’s Memorial at Riverfront Park in Algonac looks today.
“So, council what we’re doing is we’re advancing the money for this project the way this is written or are we waiting for him to raise the money and give it to the city?” Bembas asked.
Skarbek said he would amend his original motion to state that they will be waiting for the funds for the project to be raised.
“I support it 100% in fact I’ve talked to David twice and I support him 100%,” Bembas said. “I think this needs to be amended to say we’re going to pay for the maintenance of it but we’ll wait until David raises the money for it.”
Skarbek amended his motion to state that going forward the city would pay the maintenance cost of $165 a year once David has raised the $2,315 for the project for Rocket Enterprises to install the flags. Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey pointed out that the annual maintenance fee will be paid by the city from the Milford Jackson Trust.
“So, essentially we’re authorizing him to raise the funds and once we receive the funds the project can go forward,” Mayor Rocky Gillis said.
“The thing is he’s actually the project manager for this, so he raises the money and he pays Rocket Enterprises the funds for the installation and all that and whatever money is made over the amount of those two quotes that money comes back to you,” Mr. McKeown said.
At this time, David’s putting the paperwork together with the National Scouts to complete his application for his Eagle Scout project.
